Wednesday, August 13, 2014

So, looking through my pictures to remind myself what I
still need to blog about, I came to a realization.

I drink a lot of margaritas.
Which is no surprise considering I have an entire section of my bucket
list dedicated to them. So instead of individually reviewing each one in a
separate post, I’m just going to write one big tequila-lovin’ entry about the
many margs I’ve sipped this summer.

A recent discovery is Calico Jack’s Cantina in Murray Hill. Every day, they have $3 margaritas (on the
rocks or frozen) until 6 p.m. And the best part? If you order a drink- you can
ask for chips and salsa and they’ll give them to you for free!

(Delicious margaritas and FREE chips and salsa? Game on.)

Other best part?
They use ROSE’S LIME JUICE – which is of course, the key ingredient to any
quality margarita. I’ve already been
there three times in three weeks, so it’s safe to say they have my full
support. Plus, their playlist is usually
killer AND Lady Gaga bartended there back in the day. Rumor has it they have beer pong sometimes too. So pretty much, I may end
up becoming a regular.

While I have only positive things to say about the
margaritas at Calico Jack’s, I was disappointed by the pitcher at
Mexican Radio. I had heard great things
about this place, but at $50 a pop- so not worth it. I was also excited to try the stuffed
plantains there, and while they tasted good, they were nothing to write home
about. Sorry Mexican Radio, I won’t be
back.

(Unimpressive food and drink)

But somewhere I WILL go back to over and over again, is
Blockheads and MotherBurger (they’re owned by the same people, along with Benny’s Burritos) for their
Mexican Bulldogs. Usually, I’m against
frozen margaritas. But these frozen
margaritas are lethal and cheaper than ordering one on the rocks. Add a floating shot of tequila and a
Coronita? Your night is sure to be fun. And at $9 for bulldogs and $4 for
frozen classic flavor margaritas, the price is certainly right.

Although I don’t usually expect much from the
food at these types of places, on my last visit I ordered the Vegetable Mother
Bowl (salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, red onion and chick
peas topped with a veggie burger) at MotherBurger and it was surprisingly
delicious!

The margaritas at El Rio Grande are some other level
shit. While they aren’t the absolutely
tastiest margarita I’ve ever had, they more than make up for it with their
potency. I am ashamed to admit that
after just half of an El Rio Grande Margarita (served in the classiest of
plastic cups), I was all, “Whoah, time for some chips and salsa.” Luckily, El Rio Grande is another one of
those fabulous bars bestowing their patrons with complimentary chips and
salsa. And with drinks this lethal, it’s
a damn good thing! El Rio Grande has a plethora of fun flavor choices- from
lychee to prickly pear and everything in between. They’ll do any flavor either
frozen or on the rocks (but since it’s the same price, I’ll judge you if you
don’t get yours on the rocks). They only
downside to this place is the steep price ($12 per margarita) and lack of happy
hour specials. But the fact that you can
be outside on their patio combined with the fact that you realistically only
need one or two for a more than sufficient buzz, makes it totally worth
it.

(I’m convinced they use roofies or
grain alcohol in these margaritas. It’s
what gives them their fluorescent glow!)

(Margaritas taste better outside. Proven fact.)

Though I drink a margarita pretty much anywhere I go, none
will every compare to a margarita homemade by my dad. Mitch’s margs = everything. His secret? Rose’s Lime Juice and Grand
Marnier. Trust me. Or trust Mitch.

My parents went to a party recently where the centerpiece
was a GIANT martini glass. Because my
sister’s 21st birthday was coming up, and because my parents are
awesome, they brought it home and my dad proceeded to make the world’s most
epic margarita. Truly. Look!

(Bigger than my face!)

(Like mother, like daughters! We love our tequila!)

Sadly, I can’t have Mitch’s margs every day. So I will let you all know my favorite
margarita in NYC (though I’ll never stop searching). Bamboleo’s on Bleecker Street, a tiny,
unassuming Mexican restaurant with a grand total of about 5 bar stools, serves
$5 margaritas from 4 – 7 p.m. every night and they are GREAT!

You don’t go
there to meet other people, since it’s usually pretty empty, but if you want a
solid margarita, get your booty to Bamboleo’s.
I own one of their t-shirts. The
bartender recognized my voice on the phone when I called to make a reservation
on my birthday. Pro tip: like them on Facebook for a free tequila show. You’re welcome.

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